Matthew Oswin Interview

By: Paul Forrester
Date: 10/06/2001

AFTER checking the message board on EFC over the last couple of weeks I noticed that a few people were curious as to where Matthew Oswin had "disappeared" to - those that said he had gone to the States were right.

Due to the power of the WWW I managed to track Matthew down to Indiana, home of the Indiana Invaders, and asked him a few questions:

Paul:
You were one of the more promising youngsters at the club and there was talk of you making it into the first team, until your unfortunate accident. How is it that you are now playing for the Indiana Invaders (below)?

Matthew:
I came out to the States to study originally. I should have known that studying was not a strong point after doing a semester at school I realized that I didn't want to do it, so me and a few mates from college got trials here, to play in a summer league.

Paul:
Do you still keep in contact with any of the other players at the club?

Matthew:
I have lost contact with a lot of my mates there but some of us keep in touch through e-mail or I will call home sometimes. At Xmas when I was at home it was good to see them and mostly I saw Steve Croudson and Danny Butterfield. I write a letter now and again to Cockers to keep in touch and he came to see me at Xmas which was good.

Paul:
What was your reaction to the sacking of Alan Buckley at the start of last season? And how much of an influence was he and Cockers on you?

Matthew:
Mostly Cockers was an influence because we knew each other better. He had been coaching me from a young age through the YTS and then past that. I was surprised by the sacking of Alan Buckley because of what he had achieved since his return. But things change and different people have different ideas.

Paul:
What is your fondest memory at Blundell Park?

Matthew:
My best memory of Blundell Park was when Spurs came there. I was Spurs mad at that time and it was nice to see them play.

Paul:
Now that you're in the States playing, what's the attitude like? Is the training schedule and preparation for a game any different?

Matthew:
It is a lot different here because it is not the same level. I would like to try again though, so I am in pretty good shape and probably will return to either England or Germany. The training is not as intensive and it is a lower quality of coaching. Most of the lads know how to play so we just go on that really. We train daily though, so it is good for working out.

Paul:
Do you have any plans on returning to play in England? Or are you hoping that you can succeed in the States?

Matthew:
It is very hard to play at the top level in the States because of the foreign rule. They are only allowed four players that are non-US citizens or green card holders, and most of the foreign spots are taken up by big stars at the end of their playing days. I would however like to stay as I like it here

Paul:
How do you think the Mariners will do this season?

Matthew:
It is hard to say how the Mariners will do this season. Every year a good season is if we stay up in Division One. I hope they do better than that because I still follow them and see how they are doing - a mid table place would be good and beating big teams at Blundell Park will be great.

Matthew Oswin

Matthew's Player Profile

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